Washington Communique to be used to ensure global nuke security cooperation

Seoul, Mar.27 (ANI): Leaders attending the second nuclear security summit in South Korean capital Seoul on Tuesday said that they would be guided by the 2010 Washington Communiqu? and Work Plan in strengthening regional and international cooperation in achieving nuclear security objectives.

In a communiqu? issued at the end of the two-day summit, the leaders of various states noted the essential role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in facilitating international cooperation and supporting the efforts of states to fulfill their nuclear security responsibilities.

They further stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation, and encouraged states to promote cooperation with and outreach activities to international partners.

Dwelling on the Fukushima accident of March 2011, and being aware of the nexus between nuclear security and nuclear safety, the leaders said in their communiqu? that: "We consider that sustained efforts are required to address the issues of nuclear safety and nuclear security in a coherent manner that will help ensure the safe and secure peaceful uses of nuclear energy."

They agreed that they would make every possible effort to achieve further progress in areas such as (1) global nuclear security architecture (2) Re-emphasis on the central role played by the IAEA in ensuring nuclear safety and nuclear security (3) Encourage states to consider safe, secure and timely removal and disposition of nuclear materials (4) Recognise that highly enriched uranium (HEU) and separated plutonium require special precautions (5) Encourage states to take measures to minimize the use of HEU, including through the conversion of reactors from highly enriched to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel (6) Urge states to secure radioactive sources, while bearing in mind their uses in industrial, medical, agricultural and research applications (7) Acknowledge and affirm nuclear security and nuclear safety measures should be designed, implemented and managed in nuclear facilities in a coherent and synergistic manner (8) Encourage the establishment of effective national nuclear material inventory management and domestic tracking mechanisms (9) Combat illicit trafficking (10) Recognize that nuclear forensics can be an effective tool in determining the origin of detected nuclear and other radioactive materials (11) Recognize that investment in human capacity building is fundamental to promoting and sustaining a strong nuclear security culture (12) Promote information security and management (13) Enhance physical protection of and accounting system for nuclear materials and (14) Reaffirm the need for various public diplomacy and outreach efforts to enhance public awareness of actions taken. (ANI)